Movie Review: Shrek Forever After

Shrek's final chapter a dark adventure

Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers), Fiona (Cameron Diaz), and Donkey (Eddie Murphy) have returned for Shrek Forever After in a story with an interesting twist. Produced by DreamWorks Animation, fans are treated to a new look as the 3-D movie opened in theaters May 21.

The Shrek series began 10 years ago, centering on the fun tale of attraction between two very different individuals: Shrek, a dirty ogre, and Fiona, a beautiful princess. They married and had kids, but in this latest version, the "sweet" life is becoming too much for Shrek to handle.

When his belches no longer scare anyone, Shrek goes in search of his inner orgre. He becomes so angry that he signs a pact with the evil Rumpelstiltskin (Walt Dhorn) that brings him back to his life before he met Fiona. That world is very different from the one he has known with Fiona.

The soft-spoken Walt Dhorn, the voice of Rumplestiltskin, explained what he liked about playing the bad guy.

"I liked saying things I shouldn't and being as mad as I can because I'm the villain," he told the Scholastic Kids Press Corps.

Shrek discovers a tough new reality where ogres are hunted and Rumplestiltskin is king. Along Shrek's journey to find Rumplestiltskin and change his life back, Shrek and all the main characters have to rediscover each other and build their friendships again.

Diaz talked about what she learned playing the role of Fiona.

"Fiona's a nurturer and she cares about the people that are close to her," Diaz said at the Shrek premiere in New York City recently. "Those are the most important things to me as well."

Trouble quickly follows Shrek and Donkey as Rumplestiltskin does everything he can to capture them. Through their journey we see many of the same characters, although they are quite different in this new world of Far Far Away. The animation was as fantastic as ever, but the film was darker than usual, probably because of the new Far Far Away.

Shrek Forever After is a remarkable movie and although the series is ending, Puss in Boots will be starring in his own spinoff movie in the future. The animation is so amazing that the 3-D only makes a difference in a few scenes. You will never get bored watching Shrek's journey to find Fiona and do what it takes to get back to the Far Far Away he knows and loves.